Modular and customizable darts

ABSTRACT

A modular game dart comprised of a plurality of metal modules that mate together using male and female threads incorporated in the modules. The modules comprise one tip mounting section module, one shaft mounting section module, and a plurality of barrel modules, with the modules mating together end-to-end using corresponding internal and external male and female threads to form a dart.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to the field of game equipment, more particularly to a game dart.

2. Description of Related Art

Darts is a throwing sport where small missiles are thrown at a circular dartboard fixed to a wall. The rules and structure of darts has varied considerably in the past, but the term “darts” usually now refers to a standardized game involving a standard round board design and set of rules. It has evolved into a professional competitive sport, but darts remains a traditional bar game, commonly played in Britain, Ireland, throughout the Commonwealth, western Europe, and the United States.

Modern darts generally include four parts: 1) tips or points, 2) barrels, 3) shafts, and 4) flights.

Steel points generally fall into two common lengths; 32 mm and 41 mm. The points are often knurled and/or coated to improve grip.

Barrels appear in a variety of weights, and darts are usually made from brass, silver-nickel, or a tungsten alloy. Brass is cheap, but light, and therefore brass barrels tend to be bulky. Tungsten has twice the density of brass, so a barrel of an equivalent weight can be thirty percent smaller in diameter. However, tungsten is very brittle, resulting in use of an alloy of between 80% and 95%, with the remaining metal used usually nickel, iron, or copper. Silver-nickel darts offer a compromise between density and cost and are very popular.

Barrels can be found in three basic shapes: 1) cylindrical, 2) torpedo, or 3) ton. Cylindrical barrels have the same diameter along their entire length and tend to be long and thin. Their slenderness makes them superior for grouping, but with the center of gravity positioned further back. Ton barrels are thin at the ends but bulge in the middle, making them fatter than a cylindrical barrel of equivalent weight, and with the center of gravity further forward (and theoretically easier to throw). Torpedo barrels are widest at the point and taper toward the rear, keeping the weight further forward, but as with the ton, results in a larger diameter than cylindrical barrels.

Shafts are manufactured in various lengths, and some shafts are designed to be cut to length. Shafts are generally made from plastics, nylon polymers, or metals such as aluminum and titanium. Shafts can be rigid or flexible. Longer shafts provide greater stability and allow a reduction in flight size, which can result in closer groups. However, they also tend to shift the weight towards the rear causing the dart to tilt backwards during flight, which requires a harder, faster throw to compensate. A longer shaft can make the dart less responsive and increase the chance of “wobbling”.

The flights at the rear primarily reduce drag, and thus preventing the rear of the dart overtaking the point, and provide stability by reducing wobble. Modern flights are generally constructed from plastic, nylon, or foil, and are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. The three most common shapes in order of size are the standard, the kite, and the smaller pear shape. The less surface area, the less stability, but larger flights hamper close grouping. Some manufactures seek to solve this by making the flight long and thin, but long, thin flights create other problems, such as altering the dart's center of gravity. Generally, a heavier dart requires a larger flight.

The choice of barrel, shaft, and flight largely depends on the individual player's throwing style. For competitive purposes, darts cannot weigh more than 50 g including the shaft and flight and cannot exceed a total length of 300 mm.

Darts can be difficult to match with a user's throwing style and needs. It can take considerable trial and error, not to mention expense, for a user to find the “perfect” dart for their style. Further, darts wear over time, and eventually a serious player will need to replace a worn set of darts, which can often require another round of trial and error as they try out several different makes of darts.

Based on the foregoing, there is a need in the art for an improved dart design that can be easily customized to meet the needs of individuals and allow for replacing worn parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A modular dart to use in a game comprised of a plurality of modules that mate together using male and female threads incorporated in the modules. The modules comprise one tip mounting module, one shaft mounting module, and a plurality of barrel modules, with the modules mating together to form a dart consisting of a tip, barrel, shaft, and flight. The tip mounting module receives one of a plurality of tips, and the shaft mounting module receives one of a plurality of shafts, and the plurality of shafts include a plurality of flight designs.

The plurality of modules comprise different sizes, weights, and surface finishes.

The plurality of modules comprise a smooth exterior surface, a knurled surface, a grooved surfaces, or combinations thereof.

The threads correspond to a 2BA specification.

The modules are comprised of an approximate 60% to 90% tungsten alloy.

The modules are produced from a metal structure using at least one CNC machine.

The modules exhibit different lengths and different widths.

The tip mounting module comprises a tapering, streamlining transition to the barrel from the tip.

The modules comprise brass or nickel alloy.

A modular game dart comprised of a plurality of metal modules that mate together using male and female threads incorporated in the modules. The modules comprise one tip mounting module, one shaft mounting module, and a plurality of barrel modules, with the modules mating together using corresponding internal and external male and female threads to form a dart.

Advantages:

1. Improved control of weight.

2. Improved control of balance.

3. Improved control of appearance.

4. Improved ease of maintenance.

5. Reduced costs associated with creating and maintaining customized darts.

The foregoing, and other features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the accompanying drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the ensuing descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings briefly described as follows.

FIG. 1 is a view of the modular dart components, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the modular dart partially disassembled, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view of a tip mounting module of the modular dart, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a view of a point mounting module of the modular dart, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view of shaft attaching module to attach a shaft to the barrel of the modular dart partially disassembled, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a view of another shaft attaching module to attach a shaft to the barrel of the modular dart, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention and their advantages may be understood by referring to FIGS. 1-6, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements.

Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to the Figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. For example, it should be appreciated that those skilled in the art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention, recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, depending upon the needs of the particular application, to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown. That is, there are numerous modifications and variations of the invention that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit within the scope of the invention. Also, singular words should be read as plural and vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa, where appropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply that the two are mutually exclusive.

It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, compounds, materials, manufacturing techniques, uses, and applications, described herein, as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. Similarly, for another example, a reference to “a step” or “a means” is a reference to one or more steps or means and may include sub-steps and subservient means. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Preferred methods, techniques, devices, and materials are described, although any methods, techniques, devices, or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice or testing of the present invention. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

From reading the present disclosure, other variations and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. Such variations and modifications may involve equivalent and other features which are already known in the art, and which may be used instead of or in addition to features already described herein.

Although Claims have been formulated in this Application to particular combinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of the disclosure of the present invention also includes any novel feature or any novel combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalization thereof, whether or not it relates to the same invention as presently claimed in any Claim and whether or not it mitigates any or all of the same technical problems as does the present invention.

Features which are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination. The Applicants hereby give notice that new Claims may be formulated to such features and/or combinations of such features during the prosecution of the present Application or of any further Application derived therefrom.

References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” “various embodiments,” etc., may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment,” or “in an exemplary embodiment,” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may.

Headings provided herein are for convenience and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way.

The enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

Devices or system modules that are in at least general communication with each other need not be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise. In addition, devices or system modules that are in at least general communication with each other may communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.

A description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present invention.

As is well known to those skilled in the art many careful considerations and compromises typically must be made when designing for the optimal manufacture of a commercial implementation any system, and in particular, the embodiments of the present invention. A commercial implementation in accordance with the spirit and teachings of the present invention may configured according to the needs of the particular application, whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s), result(s), component(s), approach(es), or step(s) of the teachings related to any described embodiment of the present invention may be suitably omitted, included, adapted, mixed and matched, or improved and/or optimized by those skilled in the art, using their average skills and known techniques, to achieve the desired implementation that addresses the needs of the particular application.

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 a view of an embodiment of an assembled dart 105 together with the various modular components 110 of the invention. The assembled dart 105 includes separate and independent longitudinal modular body sections of a tip or point 106, a multi-part barrel 107, a shaft 108, and a flight 109 (e.g, fins). The various independent, separate sectional modules 110 can be assembled into a dart 105.

Each independent module 110 is intended and designed and configured to mate together into an assembled dart 105. Multiple mated modules 110 are used to construct the assembled dart 105 with each module 110 making up a complete longitudinal body section of dart 105.

As depicted, the tip 106 can include a tip mounting module 120 for inserting a sharpened tip 121 into. The mounting modules can vary in size, shape, and weight, and as shown three exemplary tip mounting modules 120, 122, and 124 differ in form, size, and weight. Three exemplary tip mounting modules 120, 122, and 124 depicted weigh from 5.0 gm to 5.5 gm. The tip mounting module 106 can provide a tapering, streamlining transition to the barrel 107. A shaft mounting module 130 weighing 4.0 gm is also depicted and can attach a shaft 108 with a flight 109 to the dart barrel 107.

In an embodiment, the tip mounting module 106 can receive various tip 121 designs, and the shaft mounting module 130 can receive various shaft modules 108 featuring different flight 109 designs. Just as with the other modules, the shaft module 130 can vary in size, shape, and weight with different shafts 108 affixed. These different shafts 108 can further accommodate different flight 109 designs or sizes.

In an embodiment, various sectional barrel modules 140 can be assembled together to form a barrel 107. Six separate and independent barrel section modules 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, and 146 are depicted, varying in weight from 4.0 gm to 6.0 gm. These barrel section modules 140 can exhibit smooth exterior surfaces as in 141, 142, and 146, knurled exterior surfaces as in 143 and 144, and grooved exterior surfaces as in 145, or combinations thereof, and mate together to construct the longitudinal barrel 107.

These various sectional modules can be preferably made from 60-90% tungsten alloy. Other materials can be used such as brass or nickel alloys. The various parts can be made using metal blanks completed by precision computer-controlled machines, such as CNC (Computer Numerical Control) milling machines. CNC machines can be used to rapidly, precision shape metal precursor blanks to produce small metal parts to very tight tolerances. Using CNC machines permits fine adjustments to manufacture so as to vary dimensions to accurately and precisely control size and weight of the separate and independent sectional dart modules 120, 122, 124, 130, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, and 146.

The various modules can include a male and female mating mechanism. In an embodiment, each module can include a 2BA (British Association) specification set of threads that screw together to mate the various modules. Other small thread specifications can be used to mate the modules together.

FIG. 2 shows a dart 200 partially disassembled, so that the threads and the different modules are clearly shown. The barrel includes two independent barrel modules 241 and 242 partially unscrewed. As clearly depicted, the sectional barrel modules 241, 242, and 243 make up independent longitudinal section modules that mate together by male and female threads. In use, different modules can be mated to provide for different surface finishes, different weights, different widths, and different lengths for dart 200. The overall length of the barrel 107 can be easily adjusted by mating different numbers and/or sizes of barrel section modules together. Furthermore, worn or damaged parts can be easily swapped out.

FIG. 3 shows a tip mounting section module 300 of the modular dart. The tip mounting section module 305 can include both a grooved 310 and a knurled surface 315. The front 320 of the tip mounting section module 305 can include a 0.091 inch diameter hole 325 for receiving a dart tip. The rear end 330 of the tip mounting section module 305 can consist of an internal 2BA thread 335 for receiving a matching external 2BA thread.

FIG. 4 show an alternative embodiment of a tip mounting section module 400 of the modular dart. This embodiment features a grooved exterior surface 410 of section module 405. The front end 410 of the tip mounting section module 405 can include a 0.091 inch diameter hole 425 for receiving a dart tip, and the rear end 430 of the tip mounting section module 405 can consist of an internal 2BA thread for receiving a matching external 2BA thread.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment for a shaft attaching section module 500 to attach a shaft to the barrel. The shaft attaching section module 505 can include on the rear end 510 an internal 2BA thread 515 for attaching a shaft, and on the front end 520 an external 2BA thread 525 for mating to the barrel of a modular dart.

FIG. 6 shows an alternate embodiment for a shaft attaching module section 600 to attach a shaft to the barrel. Compared to the shaft attaching module in FIG. 5, the shaft attaching section module 605 in FIG. 6 is longer and has a bored out center 610 running from the front end 615 to the rear end 620. The shaft attaching module section can include an internal 2BA thread 625 along the bored out center 610 for attaching a shaft and for mating to the barrel of a modular dart.

The invention has been described herein using specific embodiments for the purposes of illustration only. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, however, that the principles of the invention can be embodied in other ways. Therefore, the invention should not be regarded as being limited in scope to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but instead as being fully commensurate in scope with the following claims. 

1. A modular dart to use in a game, comprising: a plurality of longitudinal section modules that mate together using male and female threads incorporated into the modules; wherein the longitudinal section modules comprise one tip mounting section module, a plurality of at least three section barrel modules, and one shaft attaching section module, with the at least three section barrel modules mated together end-to-end to form a multi-module barrel of a dart and having at least one identical outer diameter with a foremost and a rearmost barrel module, with said longitudinal section modules mating together in sequence end-to-end and used to form an assembled modular dart comprised of at least five separate longitudinal section modules, with the tip mounting section module attached to the foremost barrel section module and the shaft attaching section module attached to the rearmost barrel section module, with the tip mounting section module further comprising a mounted tip and the shaft attaching section module further comprising an attached shaft having an attached flight, with said modular dart further comprising the attached tip and tip mounting section module, the multi-module barrel comprised of the assembled section barrel modules, the attached shaft and flight and shaft attaching section module, and using the threads on each longitudinal section modules to couple each of the longitudinal section modules together; and wherein the tip mounting section module provides a tapered transition from a full outer diameter of the attached multi-module barrel to an outer diameter of the tip and securing the tip solely within the tip mounting section module, and the shaft attaching section module provides a tapered transition from the full outer diameter of the attached multi-module barrel to an outer diameter of the shaft and securing the shaft solely within the shaft attaching section module; and wherein the tip mounting section module receives one of a plurality of tip designs and the shaft attaching section module receives one of a plurality of shaft designs, said plurality of shaft designs further comprising one of a plurality of flight designs, with the assembled modules, the mounted tip and the attached shaft with flight, forming the fully assembled modular dart lacking any substantial unthreaded internal spaces.
 2. The modular dart to use in a game of claim 1, wherein the plurality of section modules comprise different sizes, weights, and surface finishes.
 3. The modular dart to use in a game of claim 2, wherein the plurality of section modules comprise a smooth exterior surface, a knurled surface, a grooved surfaces, or combinations thereof.
 4. The modular dart to use in a game of claim 1, wherein the threads correspond to a 2BA specification.
 5. The modular dart to use in a game of claim 1, wherein the section modules are comprised of an approximate 60% to 90% tungsten alloy.
 6. The modular dart to use in a game of claim 1, wherein the section modules are produced from a metal structure using at least one CNC machine.
 7. The modular dart to use in a game of claim 1, wherein the section modules exhibit different lengths and different widths.
 8. The modular dart to use in a game of claim 1, wherein the tip mounting section module comprises a tapering, streamlining transition to the sectional barrel modules from the tip.
 9. The modular dart to use in a game of claim 1, wherein the section modules comprise brass or nickel alloy.
 10. A modular game dart, comprising: a plurality of metal section modules that mate together using male and female threads incorporated in the section modules and mated together to form a substantially solid dart lacking any substantial internal voids; wherein the section modules comprise one tip mounting section module, one shaft attaching section module, and a plurality of at least three longitudinal barrel section modules interspaced between the tip mounting section module and the shaft attaching section module, with said section modules mating together in sequence end-to-end using corresponding internal and external male and female threads to form an assembled modular dart comprised of at least five separate section modules, with a tip mounted to the tip mounting section module attached to a foremost barrel section module and a shaft attached to the shaft attaching section module attached to a rearmost barrel section module, and the shaft supporting an attached flight, with the tip mounted solely in the tip mounting section module and the shaft attached solely to the shaft attaching section module, with said assembled modular dart comprising the attached tip, the assembled multi-module barrel with attached tip mounting section module and shaft attaching section module, and an attached shaft with attached flight; and wherein the barrel section modules comprise section modules having a plurality of sizes and weights or having one identical size and weight for each barrel section module, and assembled lengthwise together, depending on one or more customization choices of a user as to the weight or the size of the each barrel section modules and exhibit at least one common outer diameter; and wherein the tip mounting section module provides a tapered transition from a full outer diameter of the attached foremost barrel section module to an outer diameter of the tip, and the tip is mounted solely to the tip mounting section module, and the shaft attaching section module provides a tapered transition from a full outer diameter of the attached rearmost barrel section module to an outer diameter of the shaft, and the shaft is attached solely to the shaft attaching section module.
 11. The modular game dart of claim 10, wherein the user can customize a surface feature of the each barrel section module, wherein the surface feature includes smooth, knurled, grooved, or combinations thereof.
 12. The modular game dart of claim 10, wherein the user can customize the assembled dart as to the attached shaft, the attached flight, or the mounted tip.
 13. The modular dart to use in a game of claim 1, wherein the user can customize the assembled dart as to the attached shaft, the attached flight, or the mounted tip. 